Device For Forming A Work Piece

ABSTRACT

A device and method for twisting a work piece about an axis. The device includes first and second linear actuators attached to opposite sides of a shaft. The device also includes a first clamp attached to the shaft and a second clamp aligned with the first clamp along the axis. The first clamp is disposed between the linear actuators and the second clamp. Movement of the first and second linear actuators causes the shaft and first clamp to rotate about the axis while the second clamp remains in a fixed position. The method includes the steps of retaining a work piece within the first and second clamps, activating the first and second linear actuators in opposite directions causing the first clamp to rotate about the axis, and maintaining simultaneously the second clamp in a first position, whereby the work piece is twisted along the axis.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

SEQUENTIAL LISTING

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to a machine for forming a work piece by twisting, such as the formation of industrial mixer or blender components.

2. Description of the Background of the Invention:

Devices for twisting and de-twisting work pieces have been known in the art for some time. One twisting device utilizes an electric or hydraulic motor to helically twist a plurality of metal rods. Two clamps, which are specially formed to match the shape of the rods, are attached to and securely hold opposite ends of each rod. Thus, if three rods are to be twisted together, six clamps are required. The clamps on one end of the rods remains stationary during the twisting operation, while the clamps on the other end are rotated either in a clockwise or counterclockwise motion. That is, if three rods are to be twisted, three clamps located on the same side of the rods remain stationary, and on the other end of the rods, the middle rod is rotated in one direction, e.g., counter-clockwise, and each of the two outside rods are rotated in the opposite direction, e.g., clockwise.

Another twisting device uses a rotary actuator that is a dual acting rack and pinion system to twist a bus conductor for use in an electrical system. The device includes a holding mechanism to maintain one end of the bus conductor in a stationary position during the twisting operation. The other end of the bus conductor is inserted into an opening in a cylindrical sleeve that is contained within the rotary actuator. The opening of the cylindrical sleeve is formed to accommodate the size and shape of the bus conductor to be twisted. The cylindrical sleeve is rotated by the rotary actuator, which causes the bus conductor to twist.

A third twisting device uses hydraulic cylinders to twist an airplane propeller blade. The device contains first and second clamps, both of which have a frame of a set size and shape. One end of the propeller blade is inserted into the frame of the first clamp, and the other end is inserted into the frame of the second clamp. The first clamp remains in a stationary position, while the second clamp is rotated in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. Two hydraulic cylinders are attached to opposite sides of the second clamp and extend downwardly from the second clamp. To twist the propeller blade, one hydraulic cylinder pushes up on one side of the second clamp, while the other hydraulic cylinder pulls down on the other side of the second clamp.

Devices for de-twisting a work piece generally involve the straightening of extruded metal sections that have assumed a slight twist (deformity) during the formation process. One such device uses a hydraulic actuator attached to a twisting apparatus to straighten the metal section by twisting the metal section in the opposite direction as the deformity. One end of the metal section is inserted into and rigidly retained by a carriage and the other end is inserted into a cylindrical twisting apparatus disposed horizontally and on the same axis as the metal section. The hydraulic actuator is attached perpendicularly to the side of the twisting apparatus and upon actuation of the hydraulic actuator the cylindrical twisting apparatus is rotated, thereby correcting the deformity.

One limitation of the devices discussed above, however, is that the devices do not readily accommodate work pieces that are heavy or of varying size or shape. Another limitation of these devices is that the devices are configured to handle specific types of metal pieces such as metal rods or propellers, not metal pieces that are irregularly shaped and/or wider than the mechanisms used to retain and twist the metal piece.

The present invention seeks to improve upon the prior art through the use of an improved design for a machine for twisting a work pieces that enables efficient twisting of large, heavy, and varied shaped metal pieces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, a device for forming a work piece comprises first and second linear actuators disposed within a plane and movably attached to opposite sides of a shaft having an elongated axis that extends out from the plane. A first clamp is attached to the shaft and is spaced from the plane along the axis. A second clamp is aligned with the first clamp along the axis, wherein the first clamp is disposed between the linear actuators and the second clamp. Movement of the first and second linear actuators causes the shaft and first clamp to rotate about the axis while the second clamp remains in a fixed position.

In another aspect of the invention, a method of twisting a work piece with a device is disclosed. The device comprises first and second linear actuators disposed within a plane and movably attached to opposite sides of a shaft having an elongated axis that extends out from the plane, a first clamp attached to the shaft, the first clamp being spaced from the plane along the axis, a second clamp aligned with the first clamp along the axis, wherein the first clamp is disposed between the linear actuators and the second clamp. The method comprises the steps of retaining a work piece within the first clamp and the second clamp, and activating the first and second linear actuators. The first and second actuators move in opposing directions thereby causing the first clamp to rotate about the axis. The method further comprises the step of maintaining simultaneously the second clamp in a first position, whereby the work piece is twisted along the axis between the first and second clamps.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are partial isometric views of a device for forming a work piece showing a work piece being twisted according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a left side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1, the right side being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a back view of the device of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 6A and 6B are enlarged detail views of linear actuators of the device shown moving in a clockwise motion in FIG. 6A and a counter-clockwise motion in FIG. 6B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the drawings, device 10 for twisting work piece 12 along longitudinal axis 14, such as a blank for a paddle or post, is shown. FIG. 1A illustrates work piece 12 clamped in device 10 prior to twisting, and FIG. 1B illustrates device 10 in the process of twisting work piece 12.

Device 10 includes high-weight bearing steel frame 16 having vertical component 18 and horizontal component 20. Vertical component 18 comprises two vertical beams 18 a, 18 b, and horizontal component 20 comprises two horizontal beams 20 a, 20 b. Vertical beams 18 a and 18 b are the same size and shape and are disposed parallel to each other. Likewise, horizontal beams 20 a and 20 b are the same size and shape and are disposed parallel to each other. Two legs 22 and 24 extend down from the front end of horizontal beams 20 a, 20 b, thereby providing added support and stability to frame 16. The various beams are preferably steel beams such as C-beams, I-beams, or the like.

Vertical component 18 further comprises two upper beams 26, 28, front support plate 30, back support plate 32, front lower beam 34, and back lower beam 36. Upper beam 28 is spaced above and parallel to upper beam 26. Both upper beams 26 and 28 are attached on one end to vertical beam 18 a and on the other end to vertical beam 18 b. Upper beams 26, 28 also comprise front faces 38 and 40, respectively.

Front and back lower beams 34, 36 are disposed parallel to each other. Front lower beam 34 is attached to the front side of vertical beams 18 a and 18 b and back beam 36 is attached to the back side of vertical beams 18 a and 18 b. Front and back lower beams 34, 36 support horizontal beams 20 a and 20 b, which are attached to an inner side of vertical beam 18 a and an inner side of vertical beam 18 b. The various beams may be attached by any suitable known method, such as by welding, bolting, or riveting.

First tie rod bracket 42 is attached via bolts to the center of front face 40 of upper support beam 28, and vertical hinge 44 is attached via bolts to the center of front face 38 of upper support beam 26; thus first tie rod bracket 42 is aligned vertically with vertical hinge 44. Vertical hinge 44 is also connected to one end of jib crane 46 via a plate and bolts. Jib crane 46 extends perpendicularly out from vertical component 18. Disposed on the other end of jib crane 46 is second tie rod bracket 48, which is attached to jib crane 46 via bolts. First tie rod bracket 42 is attached to second tie rod bracket 48 via tie rod 50. First tie rod bracket 42 is hingedly movable about vertical hinge 44 such that jib crane 46 is able to swing from right to left and left to right in a horizontal arc-shaped path.

Disposed below upper beam 26 is front support plate 30 and back support plate 32. Front and back support plates 30, 32 are identical and disposed parallel to each other. Front support plate 30 is attached to the front side of vertical beams 18 a and 18 b and back support plate 32 is attached to the back side of vertical beams 18 a and 18 b. Two bore holes 52 a and 52 b are disposed through front support plate 30 and align with bore holes 54 a and 54 b, respectively, which are disposed through back support plate 32. First and second hydraulic cylinders 56, 58 are disposed between and hang down from front and back support plates 30, 32.

At one end of first hydraulic cylinder 56 is hole 60 and at one end of second hydraulic cylinder 58 is hole 62. First hydraulic cylinder 56 is connected to front and back support plates 30, 32 via pin 64, which extends through holes 52 a, 60, and 54 a. Second hydraulic cylinder 58 is connected to front and back support plates 30, 32 via pin 66, which extends through holes 52 b, 62, and 54 b.

Disposed at the other end of first and second hydraulic cylinders 56, 58 are pistons 68 and 70, respectively. On an end of piston 68 opposite first hydraulic cylinder 56 is bore 72 and, on the end of piston 70 opposite second hydraulic cylinder 58 is bore 74. Pistons 68 and 70 are attached to front rotator plate 76 and back rotator plate 78. Front and back rotator plates 76, 78 are substantially identical to each other. Front rotator plate 76 contains two outer apertures 80 a and 80 b disposed at opposite lateral ends thereof and one central aperture 82 located in the center thereof. Likewise, back rotator plate 78 contains two outer apertures 84 a and 84 b disposed at opposite lateral ends thereof and one central aperture 86 located in the center thereof. Piston 68 is attached to front and back rotator plates 76, 78 with pin 88, which extends through aperture 80 a, bore 72, and aperture 84 a. Piston 70 is attached to front and back rotator plates 76, 78 with pin 90, which extends through aperture 82 b, bore 74, and aperture 84 b.

Cylindrical shaft 92 is disposed through central apertures 82 and 86 of front and back rotator plates 76, 78, respectively, and securely attached thereto, such as by welding. Shaft 92 comprises front portion 94, front end 96, and back portion 98. Additionally, shaft 92 defines and/or is aligned on longitudinal axis 14, which is preferably horizontal.

Shaft 92 is maintained in position along axis 14 by front bushing 100 and back bushing 102. Front portion 94 of shaft 92 passes through and is rotatably retained in front bushing 100, and back portion 98 of the shaft passes through and is rotatably retained in back bushing 102. Front and back bushings 100, 102 are fixedly attached to front and back support beams 104 and 106, respectively, which are offset from vertical beams 18 a and 18 b. Front and back support beams 104, 106 are attached parallel each other to top faces 108 a, 108 b of horizontal beams 20 a and 20 b, respectively.

Preferably, front and back bushings 100, 102 are identical. Front and back bushings 100, 102 are split bushings, wherein each has top portion 110 and bottom portion 112, which are attached via bolts. Split bushings 100, 102 enable shaft 92 to be easily mounted into and removed from frame 16, such as for assembly and/or maintenance.

Fixedly attached to front end 96 of shaft 92 is paddle clamp assembly 114. Paddle clamp assembly 114 includes backboard 116 attached to shaft 92, platform 118 extending out from the bottom of backboard 116, and paddle clamps 120, 122 disposed at the end of platform 118. Paddle clamps 120, 122 are therefore longitudinally offset from first and second hydraulic cylinders 56, 58 and vertical component 18 of frame 16 along axis 14.

As best seen in FIG. 2, secondary support frame 124 is attached at various points to vertical component 18 and horizontal component 20 of frame 16. Secondary support frame 124 is provided for stability and extra support of vertical component 18 and jib crane 46.

Movable carriage 126 is disposed on horizontal beams 20 a and 20 b between platform 118 and legs 22 and 24. Carriage 126 is rotationally fixed; however, carriage 126 is longitudinally slidable on horizontal beams 20 a and 20 b along axis 14. On a top portion of carriage 126 is post clamp assembly 128 including post clamps 130 and 132. (Note that portions of post clamp 130 are not shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B for clarity.) Post clamps 130, 132 and paddle clamps 120, 122 are aligned horizontally and longitudinally spaced apart along axis 14. Because carriage 126 is rotationally fixed, post clamps 130, 132 are also rotationally fixed about axis 14. Horizontal hydraulic cylinder 134 is attached to the bottom portion of carriage 126 and to front lower beams 34. Actuation of horizontal hydraulic cylinder 134 moves carriage 126 forward and/or backward along horizontal beams 20 a and 20 b and axis 14. FIG. 3 shows carriage 126 and post clamps 130, 132 in backward position 136 and forward position 138 (shown in dashed lines).

FIGS. 6A and 6B show detailed views of first and second hydraulic cylinders 56, 58 and front rotator plate 76 (the back rotator plate 78 being identical thereto). FIG. 6A illustrates the movement of first and second hydraulic cylinders 56, 58 in a clockwise direction and FIG. 6B illustrates movement in a counter-clockwise motion. Preferably, first and second hydraulic cylinders 56, 58 rotate shaft 92 at least fifty-five degrees from a horizontal in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions in a controllable manner.

In use, work piece 12 is lifted by jib crane 46 and lowered on to carriage 126. Once on carriage 126, work piece 12 is secured in post clamps 130, 132. Horizontal hydraulic cylinder 134 is activated, thereby moving carriage 126 from backward position 136 to forward position 138 so that work piece 12 can be secured within paddle clamps 120, 122 and aligned to axis 14 with the help of laser alignment tool 140. Depending on the size of work piece 12, use of jib crane 46 and/or activation of horizontal hydraulic cylinder 134 may not be required.

After work piece 12 is appropriately positioned and secured in paddle clamps 120, 122, first and second hydraulic cylinders 56, 58 are actuated in opposite directions, which rotates front and back rotator plates 76, 78, shaft 92, and paddle clamps 120, 122 about axis 14, while shaft 92 is rotably retained by front and back bushing supports 100, 102. Because post clamps 130, 132 remain fixed while paddle clamps 120, 122 rotate, work piece 12 is thereby axially twisted between post and paddle clamps about axis 14. Paddle clamps 120, 122 can be rotated up to fifty-five degrees from the horizontal in either rotational direction, and manual angle detector and/or inclinometer 142 provides feedback to an operator regarding the angular degree of twist imparted to work piece 12. Once an appropriate twist is obtained, first and second hydraulic cylinders 56, 58 are stopped, paddle clamps 120, 122 are released, and horizontal hydraulic cylinder 134 is activated to slide carriage 126 away from paddle clamps 120, 122, back to its starting position 136, thereby enabling for the easy removal of now-twisted work piece 12′. Now-twisted work piece 12′ is then released and removed from post clamps 130, 132.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A machine that can twist work pieces of varying weights, sizes, and shapes as disclosed herein creates a new configuration that addresses problems encountered by the traditional art. For example, off-setting the paddle clamps from the first and second hydraulic cylinders enables large and irregularly shaped work pieces to be twisted. In addition, the structural design of the frame, jib crane, and carriage enable heavy work pieces to be twisted. 

1. A device for forming a work piece, the device comprising: first and second linear actuators disposed within a plane and movably attached to opposite sides of a shaft having an elongated axis that extends out from the plane; a first clamp attached to the shaft, the first clamp being spaced from the plane along the axis; a second clamp aligned with the first clamp along the axis, wherein the first clamp is disposed between the linear actuators and the second clamp; wherein movement of the first and second linear actuators causes the shaft and first clamp to rotate about the axis while the second clamp remains in a fixed position.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein first and second bushing supports rotatably retain the shaft in alignment along the axis, wherein the first and second actuators are disposed between the first and second bushing supports, and wherein the first bushing support is disposed between the first and second actuators and the first clamp.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the first bushing support comprises a top half and a bottom half and the two halves are bolted together.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the first and second actuators comprise hydraulic cylinders.
 5. The device of claim 2, wherein the second clamp is fixedly attached to a carriage and the carriage is movable along the axis.
 6. The device of claim 5, further comprising a frame having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, wherein the first and second actuators are carried by and hang down from the vertical portion.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the bushing supports are fixedly carried by the horizontal portion.
 8. The device of claim 6, wherein the horizontal portion includes parallel tracks and wherein a third actuator is attached to the frame and the carriage such that activation of the third actuator causes the carriage to slide along the tracks.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the third actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder.
 10. The device of claim 6, wherein a jib crane is attached to the top portion of the frame, wherein the jib crane lifts a work piece for placement into one of the first clamp and second clamp.
 11. The device of claim 10, further comprising a laser aligned with the axis, wherein activation of the laser enables a user to align the work piece with the axis.
 12. The device of claim 11, further comprising an inclinometer, wherein the inclinometer provides information regarding the angular degree at which the work piece is being twisted.
 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the shaft extends perpendicularly out from the plane.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the first clamp is fixedly attached to an end of the shaft.
 15. A method of twisting a work piece with a device, the device comprising first and second linear actuators disposed within a plane and movably attached to opposite sides of a shaft having an elongated axis that extends out from the plane, a first clamp attached to the shaft, the first clamp being spaced from the plane along the axis, a second clamp aligned with the first clamp along the axis, wherein the first clamp is disposed between the linear actuators and the second clamp, the method comprising the steps: retaining a work piece within the first clamp; retaining the work piece within the second clamp; activating the first and second linear actuators, wherein the first and second actuators move in opposing directions thereby causing the first clamp to rotate about the axis; and maintaining simultaneously the second clamp in a first position; whereby the work piece is twisted along the axis between the first and second clamps.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of retaining the shaft within first and second bushings supports.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the second clamp is attached to a carriage, the method further comprising the step of moving the carriage along the axis from a first position to second position.
 18. The method of claim 16, the device further comprises a frame having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, the horizontal portion including tracks, wherein a third actuator is attached to the carriage and the vertical portion, the step of moving the carriage further comprises the step of activating the third actuator.
 19. The method of claim 17, the step of moving the carriage further comprises the steps of moving the carriage back to the first position after the work piece is twisted; and removing the work piece. 